Two West Hartford teams met Tuesday night in the semifinals of the CCC tournament, with Northwest Catholic defeating Conard.

Conard’s Jalen Hamblin takes a shot. He was the top scorer for Conard Tuesday night with 22 points. Conard vs. Northwest Catholic boys basketball. March 1, 2022. Photo credit: Liam Sweeney

By Ronni Newton. Photos by Liam Sweeney

Two West Hartford teams met on a neutral court at Enfield High School Tuesday night in the second game of the Central Connecticut Conference (CCC) tournament semifinals, with the No. 2 seed Northwest Catholic heading to the finals with a 66-50 win.

The game was tied 29-29 at the half, but Northwest Catholic, behind a 22-point effort by Fairfield University-bound senior Matt Curtis, dominated in the second half and pulled away for the win.

Northwest Catholic’s Matt Curtis shoots a free throw. Conard vs. Northwest Catholic boys basketball. March 1, 2022. Photo credit: Liam Sweeney

NWC had previously defeated Conard this season when the teams met in February – one of only two previous losses for the Chieftains prior to Tuesday’s contest. The other was a one-point 64-63 loss to Farmington, on Jan. 13.

Senior Jalen Hamblin (22 points) and sophomore Riley Fox (20 points) were top scorers for Conard Tuesday night.

The Lions (22-1) will face top seed Bristol Central (23-0), led by UConn-bound Donovan Clingan, in the CCC finals Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Enfield High School.

Conard, now 20-3 on the season, and boasting the best record for the boys basketball team in school history, earned a No. 3 seed and first round bye in Division II of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) state tournament, which begins next week. Conard will host the winner of Monday night’s Westhill (No. 14) vs. Xavier (No. 19) contest on Wednesday, March 9 at 6:30 p.m.

Northwest Catholic, the No. 2 seed in Division II, will host the winner of Simsbury (No. 15) and Greenwich (No. 18) Wednesday, March 9 at 6:30 p.m.

Conard’s Riley Fox shoots a free throw. Conard vs. Northwest Catholic boys basketball. March 1, 2022. Photo credit: Liam Sweeney

Conard vs. Northwest Catholic boys basketball. March 1, 2022. Photo credit: Liam Sweeney

Conard vs. Northwest Catholic boys basketball. March 1, 2022. Photo credit: Liam Sweeney

Conard’s Riley Fox shoots a 3. Conard vs. Northwest Catholic boys basketball. March 1, 2022. Photo credit: Liam Sweeney

Final score is 66-50. Conard vs. Northwest Catholic boys basketball. March 1, 2022. Photo credit: Liam Sweeney

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